Rose root, or Golden root (Rhodiola rosea) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Crassulaceae family, growing in the Polar Arctic and Alpine regions. The rhizomes contain phenolic compounds, among them the most important are p-oxyphenolethanol (tyrasol) and its glycoside (salidroside). The plant affects like the Ginseng root; as an adaptogen, and in Russia it is also used as a medicine against tumors.
In this study, production of secondary metabolites is studied in Rhodiola rosea plants grown in vivo and in vitro. Various elicitors have been used in order to increase synthesis of phenolic glycosides. Agrobacterium rhizogenesis-infection will be used for studying the effect of morphogenesis on the concentration of the secondary metabolites. Enzyme activities (e.g. PAL) will be studied in the tissues in the future, as well.